giving the name of another doctor who was to be called in, and adding,
incautiously enough, "Dr. Therne's diagnosis is purely theoretical and
such as might be expected from an inexperienced man."

Meanwhile the unfortunate Major was dying. He remained conscious to the
last, and, in spite of everything that I could do, suffered great pain.
Amongst other things he gave an order that a _post-mortem_ examination
should be made to ascertain the cause of his death.

When Mr. Selby had read the telegram from Sir John he handed it to me,
saying, "It is only fair that you should see this."

I read it, and, having asked for and obtained a copy, awaited the
arrival of the other doctor before taking my departure. When at length
he came Major Selby was dead.

Two days later the _post-mortem_ was held. There were present at it
Sir John Bell, myself, and the third _medico_, Dr. Jeffries. It is
unnecessary to go into details, but in the issue I was proved to
be absolutely right. Had Sir John taken the most ordinary care and
precaution his patient need not have died--indeed, his death was caused
by the treatment. The rubbing of the leg detached a portion of the clot,
that might easily have been dissolved by rest and local applications. As
it was, it went to his lung, and he died.

When he saw how things were going, Sir John tried to minimise matters,
but, unfortunately for him, I had my written diagnosis and a copy of his
telegram, documents from which he could not escape. Nor could he deny
the results of the _post-mortem_, which took place in the presence and
with the assistance of the third practitioner, a sound and independent,